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Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation and Inclusive Local Development in Indigenous and Peasant Communities in Bolivia
Evaluation Date: August 2017
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Legal services projects can produce benefits both in terms of the “ends” – securing legal recognition- as well as through the “means” – process developed. Obtaining collective and individual legal identity is fundamental for human rights and democratic participation. At the same time, the process of applying for collective identity—through reflection and drafting of by-laws and internal regulation—can strengthen community organization, empower community leaders and open opportunities for socio-economic development.

Theme: Rule of law

Bolivia community, indigenous, Legal identity

Project: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador
Evaluation Date: October 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Although the project succeeded in achieving male-female parity during the training, the participation of women and young women in political life in Ecuador should be further strengthened. This is a key requirement for the indigenous movement, which has shown a willingness to develop specific training programmes for women on local participation, the practice of civic responsibility, and access to socio-economic and political rights.

Theme: Youth engagement

Ecuador indigenous, women

Project: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador
Evaluation Date: October 2011
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Following the project many young leaders and managers of grassroots organisations who were trained are now participating actively in local and provincial government bodies. These participants have disseminated the training and awareness-raising material to other members of the indigenous and African-descendant movements.

Theme: Youth engagement

Ecuador indigenous, leadership, training

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project assumed that conditions for the poor tribal communities could be improved through increased awareness, capacity building and better communications. These elements can certainly contribute to improvements for marginalized groups and for strengthened governance, but the problems in the region are highly complex and the actors themselves are not homogenous within groups. For example, some groups have not accepted the 1997 Peace Accord and still want a separate state.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh indigenous, interest

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project’s focus on safety net issues was important, however, more focus on the critical issues of land and indigenous rights as provided for in the Peace Accord, could have made this project more relevant for the communities. There are still issues of peace and integration that remain unresolved which are directly affecting the governance in the region and its ability to respond to the tribal poor.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh indigenous, land, peace agreement

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

These communities are marginalized and lacked the understanding needed to participate more effectively. The project’s approach was to create alternative leaders to advocate on behalf of their community rather than working directly to engage these indigenous communities. The project also could have focused more on issues of critical concern to the communities, such as land tenure which is essential to their livelihood and traditional way of life.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh indigenous, land, livelihoods

Project: Promoting Good Governance among Tribal Inhabitants in Bangladesh (PROGGATI)
Evaluation Date: December 2013
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The project used existing networks to establish a project structure. This proved an effective way to reach down to the grass roots level within a relatively short period of time. This allowed for a quick mobilization of the project despite the dispersed nature of the communities. These communities were able link to the local governance officials as many of them had already worked together on other issues.

Theme: Community activism

Bangladesh grassroots, indigenous, networks

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation of Maya Communities in Rural Guatemala
Evaluation Date: June 2015
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

The majority of the project’s multidisciplinary expert team in Guatemala were local to Q´eqchi Maya. The integration of detailed local knowledge contributed to the project’s credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of beneficiaries and local counterparts.

UNDEF/Guatemala

Theme: Community activism

Guatemala culture, indigenous, staff

Project: Strengthening Democratic Participation of Maya Communities in Rural Guatemala
Evaluation Date: June 2015
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

Prior to the project, women’s representation in local governance was minimal with just one woman representative across all the 13 micro regions. There was also no possibility for women’s active participation. Forging partnerships in Guatemala with other organizations working on gender promotion resulted in Q’echi Maya women’s effective representation in both the urban and rural development councils. Following the project there are 13 women in 13 micro regions – one woman representative per micro region. They are invited council meetings and have the right to participate actively.

Theme: Community activism

Guatemala government, indigenous, participation

Project: Youth Training for Democracy and Development
Evaluation Date: May 2012
Report: [report link]

Lesson Learned:

By providing training in participatory civic practices in Guatemala, the project gave youth the opportunity to adopt different attitudes and experience democracy and development differently. Young people’s participation in decision-making bodies has helped improve the situation of vulnerable indigenous communities in this region.

Theme: Youth engagement

Guatemala democracy, indigenous, participation

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